Definition of clamshell
1
: the shell of a clam
2a
: a bucket or grapple (as on a dredge) having two hinged jaws
b
: an excavating machine having a clamshell
c
: either of a pair of doors (as in an airplane tail) that open out and away from each other
d
: a hinged container, case, or cover that opens like the shell of a clam
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for clamshell
The first known use of clamshell was circa 1520
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